A more nuanced picture of Steven Slater — the JetBlue flight attended who berated passengers, grabbed a few beers and disappeared down an airplane’s emergency slide after berating passengers — is emerging.

As reporters probe into Mr. Slater’s past, it appears he is a man under great personal pressure, and also a self-professed
“bag Nazi” who views passengers’ oversized luggage as a personal affront.

Mr. Slater also made his first public comments yesterday. Grinning ear to ear as reporters followed him to a car after he was released from jail on $2,500, he was composed and doled out short soundbites.

Asked to speak about rude passengers, Mr. Slater replied: “There are a lot of wonderful people out there.”

Mr. Slater, 38, said it’s “more than likely” he will lose his job with the airline after this week’s bizarre events.

“I hate to be a bag Nazi when I work a flight, but I feel if I am not, then I am letting down all those who cooperate and try to help out as well.”

He’s also facing a great deal of personal pressure. His ailing mother has cancer. It’s also been reported that Mr. Slater is HIV positive. And, as anyone knows, working in the security-frenzied airline industry is not an easy row to hoe. The skies aren’t so friendly these days.

As for all the support he has received from the public, Mr. Slater said: “It’s been very, very appreciated … it seems like something here has resonated with people. That’s kind of neat.”